The police helicopter was launched last night to help a search for burglars who broke into a house in Patcham and fled empty-handed.
The alarm was raised at 8.50pm when a patio door was smashed at the rear of a house in Wilmington Way.
A police spokesman said: “The house was unoccupied at the time, but a police unit was quickly on the scene and a search revealed that the offenders were not inside.
“The house owner returned and confirmed that nothing appeared to have been moved or stolen.
“A search, including the use of a police helicopter, was undertaken, but the offenders were not located.
“Police are linking the attempt to another incidents where a television was stolen from a house in Carden Avenue after the offenders forced entry through a patio door.”
Anyone who witnessed anybody acting suspiciously in the area or who has information about either incident is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 1460 of 04/03.
